WATER-REPELLENT COATING APPLYING SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

An exemplary system for applying a water-repellent coating to the outside of a window of a vehicle includes at least one reservoir for a hydrophobic fluid, at least one wiper with a wiper blade, and a control device. A first line leads from the reservoir to the wiper. The first line extends at least over part of the length of the wiper and has, in the region of the wiper blade, at least one opening by way of which the hydrophobic fluid can be applied to the window. An exemplary method for applying a water-repellent coating to a window of a vehicle, includes, among other things, determining a status of the water-repellent properties of the window with reference to a threshold value of a quantity of water on the outer-facing surface of the window, transmitting a signal from the control device to initiate a communicating of a hydrophobic fluid from a reservoir to a wiper when the status indicates that the quantity of water on the window has reached the threshold value, communicating hydrophobic fluid from the reservoir to the wiper, distributing hydrophobic fluid on the window by means of a movement of the wiper.

Claims

1. A system for applying a water-repellent coating to the outside of a window of a vehicle, comprising: at least one reservoir for a hydrophobic fluid; at least one wiper with a wiper blade; and a control device, wherein a first line leads from the reservoir to the wiper, wherein the first line extends at least over part of the length of the wiper and has, in the region of the wiper blade, at least one opening by way of which the hydrophobic fluid can be applied to the window.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wiper arm of the wiper has a hollow profile configured to receive the first line and configured to communicate the hydrophobic fluid to the wiper blade.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the hollow profile is divided into a first tube and a second tube, the first tube configured to receive the first line, the second tube configured to receive a second line for communicating water.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first tube extends parallel to the second tube.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one pump that pumps the hydrophobic fluid through the first line from the reservoir to the wiper.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the size of the at least one opening in the first line is variably adjustable.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wiper blade comprises a nanocoating.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one sensor is arranged in the region of the window and operably connected to the control device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor is a rain sensor.

10. A motor vehicle comprising the system of claim 1.

11. A method for applying a water-repellent coating to a window of a vehicle, comprises the steps of: S1) determining a status of the water-repellent properties of the window, wherein the status is identified with reference to a threshold value of a quantity of water on the outer-facing surface of the window; S2) transmitting a signal from a control device to initiate a communicating of a hydrophobic fluid from a reservoir to a wiper when the status indicates that the quantity of water on the window has reached the threshold value; S3) communicating hydrophobic fluid from the reservoir to the wiper; and S4) distributing hydrophobic fluid on the window by means of a movement of the wiper.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising repeating the steps S1 to S4 until the quantity of water on the window falls below the threshold value.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the communicating comprises pumping hydrophobic fluid from the reservoir to the wiper.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the hydrophobic fluid is applied when the vehicle is not moving.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the status determined in step S1 is communicated to an operator of the vehicle, and the control device in response to a command from the operator, inputs a signal to a pump to transport hydrophobic fluid to the window when the quantity of water on the window has reached the threshold value.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the status determined in step S1 is communicated to the control device which automatically inputs a signal to a pump to transport hydrophobic fluid to the window when the quantity of water on the window has reached the threshold value.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating hydrophobic fluid through a hollow profile of a wiper arm of the wiper to a wiper blade of the wiper.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the hollow profile is divided into a first tube and a second tube, the first tube configured to communicate hydrophobic fluid, the second tube configured to communicate water.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first tube extends parallel to the second tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the system;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a detail of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 3a is a schematic illustration of a cross-section through a wiper arm;

[0029] FIG. 3b is a schematic illustration of a cross-section through a wiper arm;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram corresponding to a method of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, a system 1, according to an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of this disclosure comprises a reservoir 2 for a hydrophobic fluid 2a, a wiper 3, a first line 4 for transporting the hydrophobic fluid from the reservoir 2 to the wiper 3, and a first pump 5, which is arranged in the first line 4.

[0032] The first line 4 extends over the entire length of the wiper 3. There can, however, also be more than one wiper, e.g., two. In this example, the wiper 3 is arranged in the region of a window, such as a windshield 6, of a motor vehicle.

[0033] The system 1 furthermore has a control device 7, which controls the first pump 5. The reservoir 2, the first pump 5, and the control device 7 are arranged in the region of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle. At least one sensor 8, which is designed to detect moisture, particularly rainwater, is furthermore arranged on the windshield 6.

[0034] Referring now to the detailed view of FIG. 2 with continuing reference to the system of FIG. 1, the wiper 3 has a wiper blade 9, which is mounted on a wiper arm 10. The wiper blade 9 has a lip 9a and a base portion 9b.

[0035] The first line 4 can be spilt into two sub-lines 4a and 4b in the region of the wiper 3 so that the sub-lines 4a, 4b extend on both sides of the lip 9a of the wiper blade. The first line 4 has a number of openings 11 in the region of the wiper 3. These openings 11 serve to apply hydrophobic fluid from the first line 4 to the windshield 6. The diameters of the openings 11 are variably adjustable. The openings in the first line 4 or in the sub-lines 4a, 4b can be arranged in multiple rows, e.g. two rows. In addition, a further line for spray water can also be arranged on the wiper 3.

[0036] As illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 2, a hydrophobic fluid 2a is applied from the sub-lines 4a, 4b to the windshield 6. The applied fluid is distributed over the surface of the windshield 6 by means of the movement of the wiper 3.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 3a with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cross-section of a wiper arm 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of the wiper arm 10 with a tubular hollow profile 10a. The first line 4 here either extends through the hollow profile 10a or is connected to the hollow profile 10a in such a way that the first line 4 leads into the hollow profile. Analogously to the first line 4, the hollow profile has openings (not shown) to transfer hydrophobic fluid 2a to the wiper blade 9.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 3b with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cross-section of a wiper arm 10 shows another exemplary embodiment of the wiper arm 10 in which the hollow profile is divided into a first tube 10b and a second tube 10c. The first tube 10b extends parallel to the second tube 10c in this example.

[0039] The first tube 10b here is provided for receiving, or for connection to, the first line 4, and the second tube 10c for receiving, or for connection to, a second line 12 which is designed to conduct water, which is to be sprayed onto the window, from a water reservoir 13. A second pump 14 is arranged in the second line 12.

[0040] Referring now to FIG. 4 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary method of applying a water-repellent coating begins at a first step S1. The water-repellent coating can also be described as a water-repellent film on account of its nature.

[0041] In the first step S1, a status of the water-repellent properties of the windshield 6 is determined. The status is identified with reference to a defined threshold value which relates to the quantity of water on the windshield. To this end, the water-repellent behavior of the outer-facing surface of the windshield 6 is measured by the sensor 8. The water-repellent behavior can be tested with water from rainfall and/or snowfall and/or road wetness, for example, or from spray water applied to the windshield 6 from the water reservoir 13.

[0042] Generally, the threshold value relates to a quantity of water that clings to the window without rolling off. Exceeding the threshold value here means that water remains on the window in a quantity which impairs visibility through the window and the water-repellent properties of the window are therefore deemed inadequate. Below the threshold value, the water-repellent properties are deemed adequate. The quantity of water is measured by sensors arranged on the window. To this end, a certain quantity of water is sprayed from the water reservoir onto the window by way of the second line to determine whether the water-repellent coating is adequate for reducing the quantity of water on the windshield to below the threshold value.

[0043] If the threshold value is reached or exceeded, the method moves to a second step S2 where a signal is transmitted from the control device 7 to the first pump 5 to transport hydrophobic fluid 2a from the reservoir 2 to the wiper 3.

[0044] Next, in a third step S3, hydrophobic fluid 2a is pumped from the reservoir 2 to the wiper 3. The hydrophobic fluid 2a passes through the openings 10 here from the first line 4 or the sub-lines 4a, 4b to the windshield 6.

[0045] Afterwards, in a fourth step S4, the hydrophobic fluid 2a is distributed on the windshield 6 by means of a typical back and forth movement of the wiper 3. The movement of the wiper 3 is continued until the hydrophobic fluid 2a has been distributed on the windshield 6 and the visibility through the windshield 6 is clear.

[0046] The steps S1 to S4 can be repeated until the quantity of water on the windshield 6 falls below the threshold value again. To this end, to detect whether the water-repellent coating is adequate for reducing the quantity of water on the windshield 6 to below the threshold value, a certain quantity of water is sprayed onto the window from the reservoir 13 by way of the second line 12.

[0047] The method of FIG. 4 can be carried out while the vehicle is not in a moving state, i.e., stationary. The method can be repeated at any time if the quantity of water on the windshield 6 exceeds the threshold value again.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment of the method, the openings 11 for applying the hydrophobic fluid 2a are adjusted to their largest possible size so that a quantity of hydrophobic fluid 2a with which a water-repellent film can be formed on the windshield 6 is applied to the windshield 6 in as short a time as possible. The water-repellent film formed here can furthermore be formed with as great a thickness as possible in as short a time as possible so that the water-repellent effect lasts for longer.

[0049] In a further embodiment of the method, the openings 11 for applying the hydrophobic fluid 2a are adjusted to their smallest possible size to restrict consumption when the reserves of hydrophobic fluid 2a in the reservoir 2 are relatively low.

[0050] For purposes of this disclosure, the term “water-repellent” is used as an adjective in connection with surfaces; and the term “hydrophobic” in connection with substances which impart the water-repellent effect. The term “vehicle” refers, in the wider sense, to all possible vehicles including aircraft and rail vehicles; however, in the narrower sense, particularly to motor vehicles for road travel. The term “window” refers, in the wider sense, to all windows of a vehicle; in the narrower sense, predominantly to the windows of a vehicle which are equipped with a wiper and therefore particularly to a windshield of a motor vehicle, but also, for example, to a rear window of a motor vehicle.

[0051] Features of some of the examples of this disclosure include a hydrophobic material that can be applied to the window in a controlled manner when required, that is to say when the water-repellent effect of the window does not correspond to a set value, which is predefined. By carrying out the application by way of the wiper, it is not necessary to laboriously apply a water-repellent coating to the window manually. Furthermore, it is advantageously possible to conveniently refill hydrophobic fluid by way of the reservoir.

[0052] As a hydrophobic fluid for forming a water-repellent film on the window, it is possible to use any fluid which is suitable for application to a glass window and forms a film thereon. Commercially available hydrophobic fluids which can also be applied by hand to a glass window, particularly to a window of a motor vehicle, are suitable. An ethanol-based fluid can be used. This can advantageously also be used at temperatures below zero without the fluid freezing and needing to be warmed up before being applied.

[0053] The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. Thus, the scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.